Kristen

Kristen came over after dinnertime and we made a doll for her daughter's birthday. Well, pretty much I just sat and watched while Kristen did it. I love the bright colors. My favorite part was just chatting with Kristen. I'm glad we're friends.

Comments

I've had a few requests for comments to be enabled on my blog. You may now leave comments and they'll show up. They weren't for a while. Don't feel obligated to comment though...I'd love to hear from you but I don't expect anything.

If I had a link to your blog and it is gone now...please do not be offended. I lost everything when changing templates. I use Google Reader so I'll be checking your blog anyway...I just may not have a link to it. Happy commenting!

Ants

If you look at this picture long enough you'll feel like ants are crawling on your scalp and arms. Well, maybe not. What looks like rice is really eggs or something. Justin pulled up the blinds in his studio and found this little pile of science. These aren't just little sugar ants either...they had their abdomens all up in the air ready to pinch. Justin got rid of them somehow...some kind of ant killer poison. I'm glad I wasn't involved.

Memorial Day

While some people spent their weekend doing yard work or at a barbecue...I was in my craft room making dolls. O.K. so I did clean the house, went to a barbecue with friends, watched 3 movies, and a bunch of other things but the whole time I just wanted to finish these 3 little dolls. Which I did on Monday.

I wish I could keep this one. I'm sending it to Jocelyn because I said I would and I used her fabric.

This one is mine...a little ginger wearing black and white.

I really liked that fabric with the cute cowboy cookin' over the campfire. And since I'm in Texas...why not? She doesn't belong to anyone yet.

If you have extra buttons you don't know what to do with...I could use them to fill my jars. It is a lot easier when they're divided up by color.

Eva

Liz and Reed had their baby last Friday 5/23. Liz gives me hope for an easy pregnancy and delivery. No horror stories at all. We went and saw their baby, Eva, on Sunday afternoon. She makes really cute faces and she is so tiny. I made that blanket she is wrapped in. (:

Craft Room

This entry is about our little back house. It was originally supposed to be Justin's studio but the lighting wasn't right for painting. It was used as storage for about a year. Just a few months ago I turned it into my craft room/studio. In January I was talking to Justin's aunt Toni about my need for a creative outlet. Somehow we came up with the idea that I really needed a room of my own. Thanks for inspiring me Toni. I really enjoy having this room to be "crafty" in. (:

I pieced two photos together here.

Before: This is the way it was set up by the previous owners.

Before: I know it is a little blurry but it still gives you an idea of what it looked like. These are the only semi-decent "before" photos I have...I somehow lost the most recent ones I took.

The shelves are hidden by old bed sheets and sheer curtains.

I wish I could paint more doors this color blue. And, yes, if you look closely you'll see I labeled the light switches.

I was in the middle of sorting buttons last night.

It is nice and cool in the Summer and there is still plenty of light from the window.

I'm making my first quilt. Very simple...

Fabric and button ideas for more dolls.

These two little guys sit outside the door on a rock. I guess this means I can only "hear evil" right?

Grilling

So, Justin has been mowing the Staller's lawn since they moved...and he will continue to do so until their house sells. The best part is that in return we got their grill! I cleaned it up yesterday so we could grill today. Before church I prepared some corn and top sirloin...I think it'll take some practice. Everything was tasty but we found a couple of things we'll do differently next time. It was a pretty nice day until the mosquitoes found Justin. We ate inside.
note: Jocelyn and Ben...we wish you could have been here with us.

TX Thunderstorm

Last night Justin and I were in our home office and made some comments on how suddenly we heard a bunch of thunder...the day had been pretty calm. Then rain...then thuds on the roof. A severe thunderstorm was passing right through Round Rock. There was suddenly a tornado warning and we were advised to get in a closet with no windows or in a bathtub. The closet under the stairs is where we've planned to go in these situations...it also holds our 72-kits. We never really sat in the closet and waited the storm out but the door was opened and Justin and I both put shoes on and hovered around the closet while we watched tv. I was honestly a bit scared. My brother, Brad, called in the middle of all this to wish me a happy belated birthday. (: I called him back after the storm had passed. Justin usually doesn't want to take pictures but he was the one who suggested we take a picture of the hail. We Californians are not used to weather like this yet.

Saltgrass

Justin took me to dinner on our gift card we got from his Mom a while back. We really like Saltgrass every time we go there...which isn't that often...but a lot more than any other restaurant. I guess we called it my birthday celebration. I promise I was happier than this picture indicates...just caught off guard and Justin doesn't exactly wait for me to "pose" for pictures. Then we rented The Savages and The Bourne Ultimatum...very different movies but I liked them both.

Not Sears

Originally, Tristin thought about getting 1-year photos of Kyla at Sears on Saturday. But, Justin is pretty good with a camera so we decided to try it ourselves at home where Kyla is comfortable. We got everyone together and did a family photo too.

Family Photo in Duncan's backyard

I took this one of Kyla and I'm pretty proud of it.

Kyla with Grandpa Kelly

I love those little yellow dandelions around her.

Lunch with Liz, Zoo, Good-bye

I've known Lizzy for 9 1/2 years now. We didn't see each other at all for 4 of those years but corresponded through letters and email. We had lunch and I saw her cute place. It is always great to catch up with her.

I hadn't been to the Hogle Zoo since 2002 when I went with Sabrina, Luke and Isabel. They've made a few changes for the better. We went for Kyla's birthday and mostly it was just fun to be with family. Our favorite was the gorilla eating kraft paper and the little cotton top tamarins.

Tristin and Kenny waving good-bye after they fed us dinner.

early birthday celebration

Awesome sushi at Tsunami in Midvale, UT.

Costco cheesecake with raspberries...am I really 31?